Save The River has received the test results from Week 9 (August 30) for the Beach Watch Monitoring program. One sample site, Wilson Beach in Cape Vincent, “failed” this week. All other beaches sampled “passed.”

Week 9 Results (8-30-10)

Wilson Beach: FAILED

Potter’s Beach: PASS

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

Why Did Wilson Beach “Fail” This Week?

Save The River believes Wilson Beach is experiencing a scenario where unsafe bacteria levels are linked to the presence of thick mats of Cladophora, a native type of green algae that harbors harmful bacteria. This algae is often found washed onto the shore of this site. To read more about this issue and how other Lakes within the Great Lakes are affected by this visit our blog.

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season. Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water. Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness. A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating. If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

Save The River has received the test results from Week 8 (August 23) for the Beach Watch Monitoring program. One sample site, Wilson Beach in Cape Vincent, “failed” this week. All other beaches sampled “passed.”

Week 8 Results (8-23-10)

Wilson Beach: FAIL

Potter’s Beach: PASS

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season. Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water. Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness. A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating. If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

Volunteers needed!!!

The Thousand Islands Biological Station is working to reclaim wetland habitat between Blind and Chippewa Bay and we want you to help!

Wednesday, August 25th at 9 a.m. volunteers should meet at the Chippewa Bay boat ramp, see directions below.

Some background info: The State of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and landowners are collaborating to restore connectivity between Chippewa Bay and Blind Bay; the connection between these bays has been filled in by invasive cattail expansion. The major goals are to restore native fish spawning and nursery habitat and to improve dissolved oxygen conditions in Blind Bay.

Work details: This will be a one day event. The work will require wading in about 4 feet or less of water and physically removing cattail plants by hand. Moderate physical strength needed. However, some volunteers could help in transporting the plants after they are removed.

Want to help out? Lunch will be provided so be sure to e-mail Save The River Program Manager Sarah and let us know you are coming.

How do I get there? Take route 12 north towards Chippewa Bay. Take a left onto County Route 6, indicated by a green sign for Chippewa Bay. Follow that road to the end where you’ll see the store and boat dock. We will meet there and then transport you to the nearby site.

Save The River has received the test results from Week 6 (August 9) of the Beach Watch monitoring program.  Two sample sites, Wilson Beach in Cape Vincent and Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, “failed” this week.  All other beaches sampled “passed.”

Week 7 Results (8-16-10)

Wilson Beach: FAIL

Potter’s Beach: FAIL

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

Why Did Wilson Beach and Potter’s Beach “Fail” This Week?

Save The River believes Wilson Beach is experiencing an ecological scenario where unsafe bacteria levels are linked to the presence of thick mats of Cladophora, a native type of green algae that harbors harmful bacteria.  At Potter’s Beach, spikes in bacteria levels may correspond to increased human activity.

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season.  Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water.  Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, bird and animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness.  A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating.  If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

This summer was a successful one for terns on the River, with numbers at an all time high on the River as a whole. Save The River volunteers worked very hard this season along with our conservation partners the Thousand Island Land Trust (TILT) to increase avaiable nesting habitat on the River for terns as well as keeping close watch on these special little birds over the nesting season.

Just last week, volunteers from Save The River and TILT took down two exclusion grids on the Eagle Wing Group and Tidd Island. Both sites are gridded annually with a wire net at waist height that keeps the nesting terns safe from gulls and other birds that feed and harass terns. The removal of the grids is the end of nesting season on the River and both organizations are already working on habitat restoration initiatives for next year to ensure the continued population increase for the New York State Threatened Species.

To read and learn more about tern populations on the River this year read the Watertown Daily Times recent article.

To learn more about the grid removal project check out Channel 7’s news coverage of this project.

Need more background? Check out our Common Tern Monitoring page and listen to North Country Public Radios report on this project.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who assisted in this year’s Common Tern Monitoring Program. We are looking forward to another successful year of tern farming next year.

Save The River has received the test results from Week 6 (August 9) of the Beach Watch monitoring program.  One of the beaches, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, “failed” this week.  All other beaches sampled “passed.”

Week 6 Results (8-9-10)

Wilson Beach: PASS

Potter’s Beach: FAIL

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

Why Did Potter’s Beach “Fail” This Week?

In previous Beach Watch seasons, the swimming water quality at Potter’s Beach never indicated any cause for concern.  However, twice this season, water samples have yielded high bacteria levels.  Initial observations may indicate a correlation between increased usage of the beach and unsafe swimming water conditions.  Potter’s Beach will continue to be closely monitored.

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season.  Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water.  Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, bird and animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness.  A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating.  If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

Save The River has received the test results from Week 5 (August 2) of the Beach Watch monitoring program.  Wilson Beach, in Cape Vincent, “Failed.”  All other sample sites “Passed.”

Week 5 Results (8-2-10)

Wilson Beach: FAIL

Potter’s Beach: PASS

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

Why did Wilson Beach ‘fail’ this week?

The samples at Wilson Beach had a bacteria count of 130 and 1600 colonies of Enterococci per 100 milliliters of sample water, respectively.  The NY State Health Department has set a limit of 61 colonies of Enterococci per 100 milliliters of sample water for water quality at swimming beaches.  Enterococci is a bacteria closely linked with human health impacts, such as rashes and gastrointestinal illness.

Cladophora Algae – Potential Source of Water Quality Problems

This video produced by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, depicts the ecological, social and financial impact Cladophora, a native type of green algae, has on Lake Michigan.  Although Lake Michigan is the focal point of the video, the relevance to Lake Ontario, in particular Wilson Beach, can easily be applied.  Save The River’s Beach Watch program has found a correlation between high levels of bacteria and significant algae at Wilson Beach, a problem explored in this video.

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season.  Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water.  Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, bird and animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Reduce bacteria related illness

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness. A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating. If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

Save The River has received the test results from Week 4 (July 26) of the Beach Watch monitoring program.  All beaches sampled “passed.”

Week 4 Results (7-26-10)

Wilson Beach: PASS

Potter’s Beach: PASS

Frink Dock: PASS

Round Island: PASS

Lake of the Isles: PASS

Scenic View Park: PASS

About Beach Watch

The program provides a snapshot of water quality at popular swimming areas which are not monitored by other groups during peak recreational swimming season. Our goal is to ascertain whether there is a health risk to swimmers from Enterococci in the water. Enterococci is a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals, including humans, which is closely linked to human health concerns.

There are many potential sources for Enterococci bacteria in swimming areas, including: improper sewage disposal, agricultural run-off, bird and animal waste and various other environmental factors.

Although the results cannot be used to conclusively say that a location is safe for swimming, Save The River advises beach goers to practice safe swimming habits to reduce the likelihood of acquiring a bacteria related illness, such as rashes or gastrointestinal illness. A few simple steps should be followed: choose swimming sites with good water circulation, never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating. If you are very young, very old or have a compromised immune system you are more susceptible to acquiring bacteria related illnesses.

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

This video produced by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, depicts the ecological, social and financial impact Cladophora, a native type of green algae, has on Lake Michigan.  Although Lake Michigan is the focal point of the video, the relevance to Lake Ontario, in particular Wilson Beach, can easily be applied. Save The River’s beachwatch program has found a correlation between high levels of bacteria and significant algae at Wilson’s Beach, a problem explored in this video.

Relevance To Beach Watch

The continued correlation over several years between the occurrence of Cladophora and unsafe bacteria levels at Wilson Beach, in Cape Vincent, suggests that the ecological scenario portrayed in the video is what is occurring. 

Questions?

If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information on our Beach Watch program, please stop by the office or call, 315-686-2010.

Save The River’s Common Tern Monitoring Program draws to a close for another season. It was a successful year of habitat restoration on our sites and our volunteers did an excellent job conducting their annual monitoring on all seven of our nesting sites.

In preparation for the closing of the season Save The River and the Thousand Islands Land Trust are gearing up to remove the exclusion grids that are installed annually on the Eagle Wing Shoals and Tidd Island.

The exclusion grid is a cross hatching of poly wire that is strung across the surface of the shoal. The lines are placed far enough apart to allow for terns to land on the shoal but close enough together to prevent other birds such as gulls from landing. This keeps the terns safe from predation by gulls and allows them to successfully nest, raising their young and adding to this New York State Threatened population.

Grid removal will be on Tuesday, August 10th starting at 9 a.m. Interested volunteers should call Save The River, 315-686-2010 to let us know you are coming. Volunteers will be leaving from the Thousand Islands Land Trust office at 9 a.m. that morning.

Volunteers assist this past spring with a clearing of Tidd Island in preparation for the coming nesting season. Photo by Bill Munro.